Liverpool supporters have been making a lot of noise in the Transfer Tavern in the last week or so after seeing their side all but secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Porto 5-0 in the first leg of their last 16 clash on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their meeting with the Portuguese giants off the back of comfortably beating Southampton 2-0 in the Premier League a few days earlier, a result which moved them to within two points of second place Manchester United. And the Reds continued their decent run on Wednesday as a hat-trick from Sadio Mane as well as strikes from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino sealed an easy win for the Merseyside giants, all but booking their spot in the last eight ahead of the return leg in a fortnight’s time.

Thus, there have been many happy Liverpudlians in the Tavern in recent times, several of whom are hoping that their team can build on Wednesday’s routine success with another at home to West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

In the meantime though, there has been much for our resident Reds fans to get their teeth into, not least recent reports suggesting that reported target Stefan De Vrij will not sign a new deal at Lazio to extend his current deal beyond the summer.

The 26-year-old made the move to the Stadio Olimpico back in 2014 and has since played 100 games for the Italian giants, 31 of which coming last term to help the club to fifth place in Serie A, and thus a spot in this season’s Europa League.

Yet it appears that his time at Lazio could be coming to an end as reports suggest that he will not sign a new deal with the club, in news which is likely to delight Klopp and the Reds hierarchy given they have reportedly expressed an interest in the Netherlands international in recent times.

And were De Vrij to indeed make the move to Anfield this summer, this is the Liverpool backline that could well lay the foundations for a Premier League title challenge next season…

Nathaniel Clyne

Right-back Nathaniel Clyne hasn’t featured at all for Liverpool so far this season after sustaining a back problem during pre-season, which has since required surgery.

Yet there’s little doubting that the England international is the best right-back at the club, and while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez have both deputised well, they simply aren’t as solid and dependable as the former Southampton man.

Having Clyne back will feel like a new signing for Klopp, who will surely look to ease him back into action over the coming weeks and months, both to help with this term’s aims and indeed ready for next season.

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk made a £75 million move to Liverpool at the start of the January window, as Klopp finally sought the defensive reinforcements needed to try and take the Reds to the next level.

Yet the Netherlands international hasn’t made a great start to life at Anfield despite netting on his debut in their 2-1 FA Cup success over Everton, furthering the notion that one man doesn’t completely transform a backline.

Nonetheless, the Dutchman is clearly a supremely talented centre-back and in the long run will improve Liverpool, with his first full season likely to demonstrate his abilities and back up why the Merseysiders spent a record fee to bring him to Anfield.

Stefan De Vrij

Lazio defender Stefan De Vrij has played a huge part in helping the Italian outfit challenge for the European spots in Serie A in the last few years, sealing a fifth place finish last term to earn Europa League football this time round.

Yet it appears that the 26-year-old will not be at the club next season given his contract expires this summer, giving Liverpool a huge opportunity to finally land their reported target, and thus bolster their ranks alongside Van Dijk heading into next term.

One man doesn’t make a defence but two men certainly could, as De Vrij and compatriot Van Dijk have everything to be a formidable centre-back partnership – a partnership which could help Liverpool challenge for the title next time round.

Andrew Robertson

The left-back spot has been something of a problem area for Liverpool in recent years, with midfielder James Milner preferred to natural full back Alberto Moreno for much of last season.

And although the latter reclaimed his place at the start of this term, former Hull City defender Andrew Robertson has certainly proven his worth in recent times to suggest that he is now first-choice at Anfield.

And given his efforts in the last few weeks, the Scotland international may find himself the number one left-back for a long time yet.